After reading that a court in Milan found Google guilty of libel after its autocomplete search engine function linked a man’s name to terms including “conman”, we decided to see what Google throws up when we type in entrepreneurs’ names. Now, we obviously don’t mean to infer anything about anyone here (or endorse any views!) – these are just a reflection of Google’s autocomplete search results. So what exactly is autocomplete anyway, you ask? When you start typing a search query into Google, it automatically starts suggesting what it is that you’re searching for (“autocompleting” your search query). This is where strange and funny things crop up. Now, onto the fun bit – the results! They were kinda funny, to say the least… Let’s start with Duncan Bannatyne, star of Dragons’ Den. Is his hair all that it seems?
What about easyGroup’s CEO Stelios? What does Google have to say about him?
Regus CEO Mark Dixon is also painted with the same brush:
Sir Richard Branson doesn’t escape from Google autocomplete’s suggestions, either…
What about Lord Sugar, does he fair much better? Nope, amongst other things, he’s “an idiot”, apparently.
Google autocomplete is particularly harsh about Karen Brady, Lord Sugar’s sidekick. This is probably unfair.
Deborah Meaden, however, is on the more complimentary end of the scale. A cougar in the making?
Sarah Beeny, the property tv star and entrepreneur, seems to have another problem, however. Once you pop…
Finally, assumptions about fashion entrepreneur Caprice are most surprising. We’ve met Caprice a few times, and she is most certainly not a man. She is all woman.
Wow, quite a list! We asked Google about its autocomplete results, and this is what a spokesperson had to say: “Just like the web, the search queries presented may include silly or strange or surprising terms and phrases. “While we always strive to neutrally and objectively reflect the diversity of content on the web (some good, some objectionable), we also apply a narrow set of removal policies for pornography, violence and hate speech. “These searches are algorithmically determined based on a number of purely objective factors, including popularity of search terms, without human intervention. All of the predicted queries shown have been typed previously by Google users.” Have you come across any funny Google autocomplete results? Let us know below!
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.